On your first road trip to Arkansas, you quickly understand why it’s nicknamed The Natural State. Arkansas has some of the prettiest landscapes in the U.S., particularly in the northwest quadrant where the thick forests, rocky bluffs and rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains dominate. But the eastern side is pretty amazing, too, as the Mississippi River continues its slow roll from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico past agricultural fields and swampland. A national park dedicated to historic hot springs, country cooking, small family farms and craft shops means there’s a lot of fascinating culture in The Natural State, too. Arkansas has several scenic byways and the ones we’ve chosen provide an overview of the topography and heritage of this captivating state.